In a significant step forward for lung cancer diagnosis, County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust is to deploy a new artificial intelligence (AI) solution by Annalise.ai and supported by Magentus.
Annalise.ai’s comprehensive and customisable AI solution for chest X-rays, integrated via Magentus’s Cris Radiology Information System (RIS), acts as a valuable second pair of eyes for clinicians.
By analysing X-rays, it prioritises cases with suspicious findings that might indicate lung cancer. Studies have shown this technology delivers a remarkable 45% improvement in diagnostic accuracy and a 12% increase in diagnostic efficiency.
The initiative – part of a broader North East and North Cumbria project – is spearheaded by the region’s Imaging Network, with funding secured through NHS England’s AI Diagnostic Fund (AIDF) and supported by the Provider Collaborative and the Northern Cancer Alliance.
Lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer death in the North East and North Cumbria, a region of three million people with the highest incidence rate in England. Early detection is crucial for better patient outcomes – six in ten people diagnosed with early-stage lung cancer survive more than five years, compared to just one in ten for late-stage diagnoses.
Magentus Integration and Product Strategy Architects worked in close collaboration with the Trust and Annalise.ai, to ensure the workflow experience for the radiologist is as clinically safe and in line with best practice as possible when introducing the AI capability.
The solution was optimised for the wider regional project requirements, whilst also being aligned with the technical configuration requirements of Annalise.ai systems. This included architecture optimised for both performance and data protection, ensuring that only the minimum required data for the AI evaluation service is shared through the integration.
Ken Bremner MBE, Chair of the North East and North Cumbria Provider Collaborative and Senior Responsible Officer for the region’s imaging network, said:
“The arrival of this technology for the region’s NHS is a very welcome addition to our fight against lung cancer and the terrible impact it has on our region’s communities.
“By using the AI tool, we will be able to improve the time it takes for treatment to begin for anyone who receives a lung cancer diagnosis. It will help us to save people’s lives and, importantly, catch more cases quickly.”
Dimitry Tran, co-founder and Deputy CEO at Annalise.ai said:
“Following successful deployment in multiple NHS sites in the last two years, we are delighted that this announcement means our solution can be deployed across the North East and North Cumbria and beyond.
“This will unlock significant benefits for many more patients and clinicians alike.”
Christopher Ladds, Managing Director Clinical Diagnostics at Magentus, said:
“Magentus is proud to be playing a role in bringing this innovative AI tool to County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust.
“By seamlessly integrating with our Cris RIS, we empower clinicians with efficient access to this important technology, ultimately improving the region’s ability to combat lung cancer.”
